Begonia plant named ‘bkpbechl’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bkpbechl’, characterized by its broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; and single-type female flowers and fully double male flowers that are light red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBECHL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially referred to as Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bkpbechl’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely branching and freely flowering Begonia plants with attractive flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in January, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6502406, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500604, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in August, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since November, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bkpbechl’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bkpbechl’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single-type female flowers and fully double male flowers that         are light red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in leaf texture as plants of the female parent selection         have pubescent leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have very light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower form as plants of the male parent selection         have single-type flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia×hiemalis ‘Bkpbeegl’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,825. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Bkpbeegl’.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Bkpbeegl’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’ have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia×hiemalis ‘Bkpbeeep’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,116. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘Bkpbeeep’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more open than plants of         ‘Bkpbeeep’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have more double flowers than         plants of ‘Bkpbeeep’.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Bkpbeeep’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Bkpbeeep’ have dark pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bkpbechl’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of upper and lower surfaces of typical fully developed male flowers, typical flower buds and upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Bkpbechl’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19° to 21° C. Plants were ten weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘Bkpbechl’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6502406, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500604, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about             25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants             of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching habit; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright to outwardly             spreading and mounded plant habit; plant shape roughly             obovate; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 17.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 21.2             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 27.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about three basal branches developing             per plant; each basal branch with about two lateral             branches; pinching is not required. Length: About 8.8 cm.             Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 40° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; glossy.             Color, developing: Close to between 146C and 152B; at the             internodes, close to 146A to 146B. Color, fully developed:             Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 11 cm. Width: About 7.6 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Oblique, lobes free to slightly imbricate. Margin:             Dentate to serrulate; strongly undulate. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent along veins; moderately glossy. Venation pattern:             Laciniate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker             than 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             narrow margin, close to 183A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to 178A; venation, close to between 143A and             144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 183C to             183D; venation, close to between 143A and 144A. Petioles:             Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent;             moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             N148A. Stipules: Quantity per leaf: Two. Length: About 7 mm.             Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire, ciliate. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 145B; towards the margins, tinged             with close to 181D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate single-type female flowers and fully             double male flowers arranged in axillary compound cymes;             freely flowering habit with about four flowers per cyme and             about 90 flowers developing per plant; flowers face upright             to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn             in The Netherlands; during the winter in a greenhouse,             plants begin flowering about 44 days after exposure to             photoinductive treatments.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain             good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior             environment.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 12.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter, flattened:             About 1.8 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly circular;             flattened. Texture and luster: Glabrous, velvety; matte.             Color: Close to 35A.         -   Female flowers.—Diameter: About 3.6 cm. Depth: About 2.2 cm.             Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower, arranged             in two whorls. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate to roughly reniform. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Reniform. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly glossy.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 52C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 42D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 52C; color does not fade with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 52B; color does not             fade with development. Tepaloids: None observed on female             flowers.         -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 5.3 cm. Depth: About 2.4 cm.             Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower, opposite.             Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Broadly             obovate to broadly oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Reniform.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous;             moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Glabrous; moderately velvety; moderately glossy.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 48B to 48D.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 35B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 49A; towards the margins, close to             39B; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 34C tinged with close to 152D; color             does not fade with development. Tepaloids: Quantity and             arrangement: About 25 per male flowers only, arranged in             multiple whorls at the center of the flower. Length:             Variable, about 1 cm to 2.8 cm. Width: Variable, about 0.9             cm to 2.7 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to obovate. Apex:             Rounded, obtuse. Base: Broadly attenuate. Margin: Entire;             moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 50B. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 50A to 50B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 52D; towards the margins, close to 52B; color does             not fade with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.8 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Angle: About 40° from lateral branch axis. Strength:             Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle:             About 40° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Close to 152A with N199C.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower,             opposite. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape:             Roughly reniform. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Reniform.             Margin: Entire, ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 143B; towards margins and apex, tinged             with close to 51C to 51D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed on male flowers,             all structures transformed into tepaloids. Pistils: Present             only on female flowers. Quantity per flower: Three. Length:             About 1 cm. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to             154C. Stigma diameter: About 4.5 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft.             Stigma color: Close to 7A. Ovary color: Close to 152D,             tinged with close to 164C. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Bkpbechl’ as illustrated and described. 